This weekend on a shoestring

• “Adopt a duck for the Duck Race for Kreative Kids and join hundreds of rubber feathered friends flocking together to help provide creative opportunities for youth in Transylvania County,” invites a website for the afternoon event. “And YOU can win prizes! With every duck you adopt, you’ll help TC Arts Council provide scholarships to art camps, pottery camps and provide more Arts In Schools Programming for K-12 in Transylvania County. Don’t wait! Fill out your adoption paper today and adopt your winning duck for $5. Then come to the race on July 4 at 5 pm at King’s Creek at Brevard College and cheer on your duck to victory!” Spectators free.

• For many, Independence Day wouldn’t be complete without a sizzling grill, outdoor games and a fireworks finale. Luckily, dozens of area events offer just that experience. Check out a comprehensive guide to area celebrations here.

Friday, July 5

• Work off your Independence Day feast with an easy-to-moderate hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Bring water, a snack, hiking shoes and supplies for inclement weather. Free. Info and location: 298-5330, ext. 304.

• From a Smart Bet in this week’s issue, “February took a drummer/keyboardist from local instrumental/electronic collective A Ghost Like Me. But March brought a new drummer — Josh Newton (formerly of Dashvara) rounds out the band (with Brad Rogers on guitar, synths and loops; and Key Andrew on bass, flute, synths and loops) and has also helped to evolve the trio’s sound. ‘A Ghost Like Me has gone a bit more in the direction of live electronica, like Shpongle live band, Ozric Tentacles, old STS9,’ says Rogers. The band plays its first show with the new sound and lineup at Emerald Lounge on Friday, July 5. Old You and Opposite Box also perform. 9 p.m., $5.”

• “Come join us for a day of education as we bring our community together to celebrate the truths about the cannabis plant,” invites a website for the Asheville chapter of NORML‘s Cannabis Community Festival. “We will have speakers, musicians, local businesses and local food and beer all coming together to create the beginning of Asheville’s cannabis community!” Hosted at Pisgah Brewing Company, 150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain. By donation. Noon-1 a.m.

• “A New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of 14 novels, Mary Alice Monroe launched a new trilogy with The Summer Girls, in which three sisters reunite on Sullivan’s Island, off the coast of South Carolina, after years of separation. Novelist Patti Callahan Henry praises Monroe’s book in this way: ‘Monroe’s resplendent storytelling shines even brighter . . . [with] startling insights into the intimate connection between nature and the human heart.’” Monroe visits Malaprop’s as part of a series of readings and book signings in WNC. 55 Haywood St. 7 p.m. Free.

• “Mechanical Eye will present ‘The Heroines of Handcrafted Cinema’ at the BeBe Theater, as part of this year’s Impractical Labor in Service of the Speculative Arts (ILSSA) conference taking place July 5-7th,” according to the organization’s website. “For this program, we’re teaming up with filmmaker Kelly Gallagher, the curating genius of Philadelphia, to present films by women who labor for their art impractically. The heroines of ‘handcrafted’ cinema animate moving images that are literally and tangibly created by their own hands — images that are crafted, painted, torn up, spit up, chewed out, glittered up, collaged, drawn, painted, puppeteered, sewn, hand-processed, bleached, scratched, made with love, made with hate and made with everything in between.” 20 Commerce St. 8 p.m. $5 suggested donation.

Sunday, July 7

• From a website for the bi-annual festival, “The Big Crafty revives the tradition of the community bazaar, a lively celebration of handmade commerce, featuring local food, beer, toe-tapping tunes and the fine wares of select indie artists and crafters. … Our guiding principle is that buying handmade is good for the community, and our aim is to make doing so fun. Our free and fun for all ages events are held twice annually in the heart of beautiful Asheville, N.C. We extend warm welcome to Asheville’s rich pageant of basement and backyard artists, its juried prize-winners and those who delight in them. We’re grateful for the hearty support of the entire community, but we particularly want to thank the Asheville Art Museum for their ongoing support of The Big Crafty and for their 60-plus years of promoting a creative and culturally-vibrant Asheville.” The indie craft fair takes place this weekend at the Asheville Art Museum and Pack Place from noon-6 p.m. Free to attend.